Percussion-fuse for shells.



PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

J. B. SEMPLE.

PERCUSSION FUSE-TOR SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 1904.

VQHTM ESSES locked in such position by the act of firing.

Nrrnn STATES- ]Eatented may 93, 1905-.

JOHN B. SEWPLE, OF SEWICKLEY, PENJSYLVAIHA.

PERCUSSlQN-FUSE FOR SHELLS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. $790,401, sated may 23,

Application filed June 6, 1904 Serial No. 211,242.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. SEMPLE, of Sewickley, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, v have invented a new and useful Percussion- Fuse for Shells, of which the following is a 1 full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, l forming. part of this specification, in which- E Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved fuse with the parts in unarmed pol sit-ion. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the l parts in armed position after firin Fig. 3 l is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a modification with the parts in unarmed position; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly i broken away, showing the form of Fi 3 with the parts in armed position. ,3

My invention relates to the class of percus- 5 sion-fuses for explosive shells, and is designed to provide a simple and effective construction by whichthc firing-pin may be moved from unarmed position into the armed position and cavity. The firing-pin 5 rests within a central hole leading throl'lgh the plunger 6 and is nor I mally held in unarmed position by afrangible pin 7 extending through registering holes in the plunger and pin. The rear end portion of the plunger is provided with a lip 9,which is preferably annular in shape and surrounds the rear portion of the firing-pin bodynvhich has a rear projection 8 thereon. 10 indicates the cap-socket, which is secured within the orimped. lip 11 of the fuse-stock and contains the-percussion cap or detonator 12.

The fuse is secured Within the rear end of the shell by inter-fitting screw-threads or other suitable connection, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Upon firing, the fuse-stock and firing-pin are driven forward relatively to the plun- Lj'fil, which is momentarily held by its inertia.

During this relative forward movement the beveled or conical face 4: contacts with and crimps the lip 9 of the'plunger around the shoulder between the rear end of the firingpin body and its reduced extension 8 after the movement of the fuse-stock has broken the frangible pin 1' and then driven the firingpin forwardly in the plunger. The parts then take the armed position shown in Fig. 2, and upon the impact of the shell the firingpin explodes the percussion-cap in the usual manner by the. forward movementof the pin and plunger relative to the fusestocl It will be noted when in unan-med'position the plunger is locked. to the firing pin in one relative position by the frangible cross-pin,

while upon the no ls of the plunger andliringlin are sh rteo. and the firingpin is then lot-had to the plun er in armed position with the tiring-pin point projecting beyond the for-war l of the plunger.

Instead of me projection S as a partof the firing pin it may be formed as part of the rear wall of the fuse-stool: cavity. Thus in Figs. 3 and a: I show construction similar to that of the first form except t rat the firing-pin is of the same diameter throughout its length and the rear wall of the fuse-block cavity is provided at its center with the pl'OJGCl-IOD 8', which acts to more the firing-pin forwardly within the plungerhole to a position where the lip 9' is crimpetl over the rear end of the firing-pix: by the action of the conical or beveled fac i'. The operation of this form is substantially that of tee first form, the frangible pin being broken upon tiring and the firing-pin then locked to the plunger in its projected position by the crim ping of the pi linger-lip around its rear end.

The plunger and firing-pin are preferably made of the same metal or i lloy, such as brass, and the same material may be used for the fuse-stock and capeochet.

The advantages of m invention result l roan the forcing forward of the liring pin rel alive to the plunger by the action of the fuse-stock upon its rear end and the locking of thefirlug-pin to the plunger in its and armed position by crimping or bending in a portion of the plunger to prevent rearward movement of the firing-pin relative thereto when in armed position. A simple and efiective construction is thus afiorded which] will give positive action, especially in smalier shells such as onepounders. The firing-pin is normally-held in unarmed position by'the frangible pin, While the beveled or conical face of the fuse-stock cavity acts to bend in the rear lip portion of the plunger to lock the pin in its new position.

The same fuse maybe used as-a point-fuse by providing a passage Way for the flash of the primer to the rear and reversing the position of the fuse-stock. The form of the pin and plunger may bevaried and any desirable type of fuse-stock and cap may be used with-- ing a cavity, of a plunger therein,- a firingpin .within the plunger and secured in armed position by a frangible pin, a projection between the fuse-stock and the rear end of the pin, and means for crimping a portion of the plunger around the normally project'- ing rear end of the firing-pin when the parts are driven into armed position; substantially as described.

3. The combination ing a cavity, of p hin the plllll i. and normally locked in unarmed position, a projecting lip .e rear end of the plunger, and means for or iping said lip around the rear end of the fir 'sg-pin as the parts are driven into armed pct tion; substantially as described" The combination with a fuse-stock having cavity, of aplunger therein a tiringpin Within the plunger and. normally locked thereto in unarmed position, a projecting lip at the rear end .of the plunger, and a beveled. or inclined face on the rear Wall of the fusestock cavity constructed to crimp the lip around the rear end of the firing-pin as the vvitifuse-stock hayparts are driven into armed position; substantially as described.

5. The combination With a fuse-block having cavity, of a plunger in the cavity and having a rear lip, a firing-pin normally held in unarmed position Within the plunger by a frangible connection therewith, a projection between the rear end oi the firing-pin and the rear Wall of the fuse-stock cavity, and an incline at the interior rear wall of the cavity constructed to crimp the lip around the rear end of the firing-pin the parts are driven into armed position; hstantially described. timony whereof l. have hereunto set JUHN B. SEMPLE.

L. A. Comics, J 1:, Huh l. Conwnv.

herein, a firingv 

